So I went Christmas, Reyes Magos and Birthday shopping today… all for me! I had suddenly run out of both my Clinique Elixir perfume and Clinique moisturizer – eek! – and had to re-stock. While I was at it I also got a travel-sized tube of the moisturizer, and would have also bought a smaller perfume for travelling (I’m out of that too), but they were sold out of the latter. Anyhow, a good haul and all was on sale. Yay. 🙂

First day of the year and celebrating with my first mince pie of the holiday season! Better late than never (and great for breakfast). Thanks to Lucy @sparkybakewell for bringing some back from the UK for me.

When I go to London in May I will be staying in a new (for me) part of town – Clapton. At first glance it looked a bit further out than the “usual” place in Wapping, but in fact it is very accessible and I have three main bus routes that should take me pretty much everywhere I will want to go – including the event at the Spanish Embassy. And there is also a night bus that takes me straight home.

Because I was waylaid by panic attacks when I was there in 2015 I was already getting nervous about meeting friends, even though I’m not going until mid-May. But upon discovering these bus routes I feel much more reassured, and it means I shouldn’t have to take the tube (bonus!).

Tomoko is here! She is going to be cat & house sitting while I am away, which will also be a nice holiday for her (she loves cats!). But we have a couple of days together to catch up – and for Tomoko to learn an the Stupid Cat Rules. 😉

Tonight I took her out on a preview of my new San Lorenzo Tapas Tour, which will be starting in September. I think it’s going to be great.

So after the HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT of not getting my CT scan results yesterday (though I DID get to ride in a Jaguar XF!) I have decided – fuck it – I’m just going to go for it. I’ve been putting off making any summer travel plans. You know, JUST IN CASE. Because if I suddenly needed surgery or treatment, well, then I’d lose deposits and/or entire payments for hotels, flights, etc. Given that I’m not feeling too badly and that nobody seems to know what is going on… I have decided to book my summer holidays! Today.

First up… three days in Granada in mid-July. It’s been over three years since my last visit and I really want to catch up, and also hang out with Gayle @granadatapastour on her home turf. From there I will carry on to Málaga for a few more days. Not sure for how long yet, but that is flexible as I am staying at a friend’s place.

Then… a week in San Sebastián at the end of August! I have been planning to visit my friend Gabriella @tenedor (aka Shawn of The North 😉 ) for YEARS. And now it is finally going to happen. I will also spend a day or two in Bilbao, that bit is still up in the air. But I am going to book my flights and then the rest of it I can sort out later.

And so, excited and nervous. Apparently I have the next oncology appointment on July 5th, though I wasn’t given a time and was told I will have to sort that out myself. In the meantime, life goes on… I hope…